The Word Among Us
Meditation: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
1st Sunday of Advent
Be vigilant at all times.… Your redemption is at hand. (Luke 21:36, 28)
So begins another Advent—with words of warning to stay alert, but also with words of confident reassurance. Isn’t it funny how we are so quick to focus on the verses that sound threatening but lose sight of the ones that remind us how faithful God is and how deeply committed he is to us?
Do you believe that right now, God wants nothing but good things for you? After all, he has been pouring out grace on his people for millennia. From the very beginning, he has been leading us to the day of our “redemption,” so why would he stop now (Luke 21:28)?
In today’s first reading, we see St. Paul praying that the people of Thessalonika will deepen in their love for each other as they wait for the Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13). Paul didn’t say this because he thought that the Thessalonians were doing poorly. Quite the opposite—he begins his letter by praising them for their “work of faith and labor of love” (1:3). Paul wasn’t correcting them or admonishing them; he was congratulating them and urging them to keep up the good work!
The same is true for you. God isn’t upset that your faith in him or your love for other people isn’t greater than it is. He knows your heart; he knows how much you want to please him. He delights in the faith and love that you do have—incomplete though it may be. Now he is urging you to take another step so that you can be even more faith filled and loving.
We are entering Advent, a season of grace when God invites us to journey deeper into his love and his presence. Over the next four weeks, you’ll find numerous opportunities to connect with the Lord, whether it is at Mass, in prayer, or in your encounters with other people. Make the most of them. Trust that each situation is another opportunity for your redemption to unfold even more.
“Lord, draw me closer to you this Advent!”
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Responsorial: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 141
Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2
1. The first reading opens with these words of great promise and warning: “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.” How would you describe the fulfillment of that promise? As you prepare your heart to celebrate the coming of the Lord at Christmas this year, what additional steps can you take to commit your life to Him in a deeper way?
2. In the Responsorial Psalm, we ask God to “make known” to us his “ways,” to “teach” us his “paths”, and to “guide” us in his “truth” (Psalm 25:4-5). In what ways does God teach and reveal his intentions to you? What can you do each day, especially during Advent, to be more attentive to his promptings?
3. In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica to “increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” He goes on to say that loving one another is the key to “being blameless in holiness” at the “coming of our Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13). Why is there such a strong relationship between love and being ready to receive Christ at his “coming”? What are some practical steps you can take to demonstrate more deeply Christ’s love, and your love, to your family and to others? In what way will this love in action help them to be more ready to receive Christ?
4. The Gospel reading focuses on the difficult signs that will occur prior to Jesus’ Second Coming, rather than on his First Coming at Christmas? Why do you think that is so? How would you describe the similarities and differences between his First and Second Coming?
5. In the Gospel, with regard to the signs that will arise during the end times and the final return of Christ, we are cautioned to be “vigilant,” so that day doesn’t catch us “by surprise like a trap” (Luke 21:34). What does being vigilant mean to you? There are many things that can keep us from being vigilant, e.g., sin, temptations, distractions of the world, and fear and anxiety. What are some things you can do to overcome and root out any of the obstacles that can cause you not to be vigilant?
6. The meditation ends with these words: “We are entering Advent, a season of grace when God invites us to journey deeper into his love and his presence. Over the next four weeks, you’ll find numerous opportunities to connect with the Lord, whether it is at Mass, in prayer, or in your encounters with other people. Make the most of them. Trust that each situation is another opportunity for your redemption to unfold even more.” What additional steps can you take during this grace-filled season of Advent to deepen your relationship with the Lord through prayer, the sacraments, Scripture reading, and fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to use this Advent Season to draw you closer to him and to prepare your heart to receive him more deeply this Christmas, and when he comes again in glory. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
A Christian Pilgrim
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN IN GLORY
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN IN GLORY
(A biblical reflection on the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year C] -- 29 November 2015)Â
Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-28,34-36Â
First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalms: Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14; Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12 -- 4:2Â
The Scripture Text
"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."Â
"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:25-28,34-36 RSV)
"May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you" (1 Thessalonians 3:12 RSV).
St. Luke portrayed vividly the coming of the Son of Man in glory. Even though he alluded to the terror that will be in people's hearts at that time, Luke focused more on the majestic coming of the Son of Man (Luk 21:25-26,27). In what context are we to understand Luke's reflections on the second coming as we begin Advent?
Even though Advent prepares us to celebrate the first coming of Christ, our attention is directed to the second coming. This is appropriate because we need to be aware of the destiny that awaits us with the second coming of Christ if we are to celebrate properly His first coming.
Whether we accept it or not, Christ's coming in glory confronts our lives. By considering it in the coming days, we can avoid making Advent and Christmas mere exercises of sentimentality. Hopefully, we can allow the word of God in scripture to challenge and reform our lives. During this season of Advent we will encounter many men and women whose words and lives should cause us to reflect upon ourselves and our manner of living.
On this First Sunday of Advent, for example, we are helped by the words we hear to put the passage from Luke in proper perspective. Jeremiah said that in the time of Messiah Judah would be safe and Jerusalem secure and known as “the Lord our justice†because God would be present there (Jeremiah 33:16). We will be ready to meet the Lord when He comes as we embrace the prayer of the psalmist that the Lord, who is our justice, guide us in His truth and teach us that we might be just (Psalm 25:4-5,8-9). Moreover, we can pray with St. Paul that the Lord would strengthen us, make our hearts overflow with love for one another, and make us blameless and holy before God (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
In these ways, our hearts will be changed and we will be able to live in love and justice with each other as God so eagerly desires. Then we will be ready to meet Jesus in His second coming. We will also be able to celebrate His first coming in a way that is open to the transformed life that He came to give us.
Short Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me prepare for the coming of Your Son. I want to accept the grace that He won for me. During this season of expectation, fill my heart with Your love and my mind with Your truth. Amen.
